Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fisheries and

for a world without hunger Aquaculture Department

Fishing Gear Types

Pole and Lines

Pole and line

Source: FAO-Fish.Tech.Pap.222, p. 51

Characteristics
Overview A pole and line consists of a hooked line attached to a pole. This method is common to sport
fisheries (angling) but it is also used in commercial fisheries. Fishing rods/poles are made of wood (including
bamboo, also constructed of split cane) and increasingly of fiberglass.
Handling Equipment Pole and lines may be hand operated or mechanized, e.g., for tuna catching, with the pole
movement being entirely automatic.
Vessel Overview Pole and lines can be operated either from the shore (sport fishing) or (for commercial or sport
fishing) from any type of vessel, from the smallest ones. In industrial fisheries, the most common are "Pole and
Line vessels" fishing for tuna. The tuna pole and line vessels are units from 15 to almost 40 meters in length
with special arrangement for using as many poles as possible from the side of the boat and for keeping bait on
board, in the best condition, if possible alive.
Fish Operation Fish are attracted by the bait. In small-scale professional or sport fisheries the pole is swung so
to reach the line, a moulinet has to be used when the line is much longer than the pole; the small fish is, then,
taken from the hook by hand. On board tuna pole and lines vessels, the hooked fish tuna are swung on board,
by hands (by two to three fishermen if the tuna is very big) or with an automatic swinging system; the tuna
normally release themselves from the barbless hook when they touch the deck of the vessel.
Target Species Pelagic, demersal and benthic species.

Water Area Overview All over the world.

Gear Environment Pole and lines are operated in a very wide range of depths, either in inland and sea waters.
For commercial fishing for large pelagic fish/tuna only fish swimming very close to the surface are caught.
Impacts

Species In general, the use of this method has not potential negative impact.

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department